Advocacy and communication manager

MdM is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care. In Ukraine, MdM Spain implements the project activities in close cooperation with the relevant authorities, public health facilities and communities.

MdM has been operating in Ukraine since August 2015 and is currently implementing an emergency response and recovery program in different regions in Ukraine. The program is implemented around two main components: direct provision of services through multidisciplinary mobile units (including primary healthcare services (PHC), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), Mental Health and Psychosocial support services (MHPSS)); and  strengthening of local health system (with a specific focus on PHC, SRH, MHPSS and GBV) through capacity building of health and non-health staff, awareness raising and the provision of medical equipment, consumables and medicines. 

 Essential duties / HR

Under the direct supervision of the General Coordinator and technical guidance of the Advocacy and Communication departments in Spain and Germany, the Advocacy and Communication Manager facilitates the updating of the advocacy and the communication strategy and leads the implementation of the advocacy and communication strategy for the MdM Ukraine mission as well as designs and oversees the implementation of the annual advocacy and communication action plan.       

 ADVOCACY
 Implementation and update of the advocacy strategy and plan

• Update and consolidate the Advocacy strategy for the mission in coordination with the Coordination team
• Update and implement advocacy plan for the mission including regional field bases with details on planned activities.
• Integrate MDM national and field partners in implementation and update of the advocacy strategy on relevant aspects.
• With support of the advocacy officer in Kyiv and liaison officers in field bases to organize regular monitoring and analysis of the political environment, the latest developments in the field and the agenda and statements of the targets and react to events or adapt the advocacy strategy accordingly.
• Support the teams in collecting adequate and reliable information and feedback to be used in advocacy activities
• Responsible for the content of factsheets, policy briefs and any other advocacy and communication document with technical support from the Coordination team and HQ Referent for the MdM Ukraine mission highlighting advocacy messages from our field data on the different areas of the strategy (print/social media/photos/video)
• Support the coordinators during advocacy events, preparing advocacy messages; and representing MdM at advocacy events (round tables, lobby tours, Task force etc.)
• Design advocacy activities and plans and draft narratives in project proposals and reports

 Coordination and networking

• Develop networking with International and Ukrainian actors, such as NGOs, Governmental actors, the media, academia, and UN agencies.
• Represent MdM actively in Coordination groups and relevant advocacy working groups such as the ACCESS Consortium advocacy group, communication group, UN Clusters (especially Health, Mental Health and GBV) when needed.
• Strengthen current partnerships and support with MDM local partners especially in advocacy.

 COMMUNICATION

• Implementation and update of the communication strategy and plan
• Update and consolidate the Communication strategy for the mission in coordination with the Coordination team
• Update and implement a communication action plan for the mission including regional field bases with details on planned activities.
• Lead the general coordination of communication activities in Ukraine
• Coordinate external communication service providers
• Cooperate and coordinate with  the communication departments from Spain and Germany headquarters
• Coordinate media requests from the chapters and within Ukraine (Propose, contribute, oversee to media interventions: press releases, press trips, opinion column, interviews, etc.)
• Acting as editor in chief for both internal and external communication content 
• Responsible for the planning and the content of     monthly snapshots and other communication materials (newsletter SitRep etc);
• Supervising field teams with guidelines for content production (articles, SitRep, pictures, video-clips, newsletter, social media, ) from  the three areas of activities (HUBs) of MDM
• Supervise the dissemination of communication material feasible to be used by the communication departments of the different chapters to ensure MdM’s visibility and comply with donor requirements
• Responsible for the content of the MdM Facebook page 
• Provide guidelines to field teams on MdM visibility rules and donor requirements with regards to visibility materials

 HUMAN RESOURCES     

• Train and coach/manage an Advocacy/communication Officer 
• Coordinate external services providers

Capacity building of MdM Staff in Advocacy and Communication

• Train the field team to collect testimonies
• Sensitize the team about advocacy and communication, its role in MdM’s mission, and the strategy itself when      designed
•      Maintain ongoing communication with the team to sensitize them, involve them in the advocacy and communication actions and stay up to date with the development in the field.
• Contact person for communication and advocacy departments from the HQs

 Other

• Be flexible in performing his/her duties to ensure that MdM Ukraine mission’s advocacy and communication messages are developed according to internal quality standards and are efficiently disseminated 
• Perform other additional duties related to advocacy / communication activities

 Hierarchical and Functional links

Hierarchical link: General coordinator

Technical link: Advocacy Advisor (based in Spain), Communication manager (HQSpain and Germany)

Functional link: coordination team

Profile required: 

• Excellent analytical skills, especially for complex political context
• Excellent representation and diplomatic skills / Ability to defend advocacy position in front of external actors
• Excellent writing skills
• Strong organisational skills / Rigor / Ability to classify and to manage priorities
• Capacity to take initiatives and propose innovative solutions / Adaptability to a possible changing context 
• Knowledge of data analysis and documentation for advocacy purposes
• Knowledge of how to use policy, research, lobbying, public campaigning, media and digital work to influence a political agenda.
• Professionalism, ability to develop solid evidence-based arguments and recommendations 
• Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law is an asset
• Skills in graphic design, video, photo editing, and web development applications (would be a plus)
• Gender sensitive
• Team work spirit

 EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in a humanitarian organization / humanitarian context in Ukraine
• Experience in advocacy: in the health sector is an important asset; humanitarian advocacy an asset.
• Experience with health-related projects: specific focus on Mental Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based violence an asset.
• Experience in public speaking and in negotiations and relations with partners and authorities
• Experience of team management/coaching

Language and computer skills:

• English/Russian/Ukrainian (fluent writing and speaking)
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office

We offer:

• Fixed term contract 
• Starting date- asap
• Salary according to the MDM salary Grid
• Medical insurance
• Full -time job

To apply:

• Send CV (inc reference contacts)+cover letter

Deadline for applications - February 14th, 2023

https://www.facebook.com/mdm.ua.no

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be invited to the interview.